Istanbul classics, Private guided tour with entrances

You will be met with your guide at your hotel lobby or seaport, and you will come to Old city area to visit Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and Grand Bazaar.

Hippodrome which was once the centre of the early Byzantines social and recreational life. The name Hippodrome refers to the fact that it was used as a ground for horse racing in its early time of use. Although over time, the history of the Hippodrome is fading away, a few parts of this spectacular site including a walled obelisk, the obelisk of Thutmose III and serpentine column are still standing, enunciating the pride of once Byzantine civilization.

Blue Mosque which is also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque is a piece of exceptional architecture within the four walls of elegance. Its exceptional architectural exterior design includes one main dome, eight secondary domes and six minarets. The mosque had been built on a classical scheme with the traditional Islamic design for architecture. The design features a noticeable use of blue tiles, hence the name. The Blue Mosque aka the Sultan Ahmed Mosque was built during the reign of Ahmed the first. Although the mosque is still used as a mosque for prayer, it is also a remarkable part of the Istanbul’s largely growing tourism.

Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya in Turkish) served for both Christianity and Islam in different times. Back in 537 when it was first built, it was since then used as an Eastern Orthodox Church till 1453. When Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Turks, the hall attracted the attention of the new Ottoman Empires and was later transformed into an Imperial Mosque. Serving as a mosque for nearly five centuries, the Hagia Sophia was at last converted into a museum. And till date, it serves as a museum containing a golden history evolving from time to time. Despite having one of the greatest examples of Byzantine architecture, the exceptionally luscious interior design is much more admired as a masterpiece of works.

Topkapi place which was constructed in 1459, it served as the primary residence of the Ottoman Empires for nearly four centuries. Its original name after construction was Yeni Sarayı (New Palace), which was later changed into Topkapi on 19th century. The palace was officially declared as a museum in 1924 by the Turkish govt. The palace was used also used as a place for royal entertainments and state occasions.

The Palace consists of a large area with several buildings once used for different purposes. The palace offers a fine collection of Imperial and Ottoman utensils like treasuries, relics, caftans, sultan portraits.

The Grand Bazaar is one of the oldest and largest covered markets of the world. It is a store house of life with 61 covered streets and more than 3,000 covered stores offering almost anything and everything you need. The Grand Bazaar is a part of the walled city of Istanbul. The bazaar was constructed during 1455-1461. The market is a place filled with life, with dazzling lights and the noise of life within the walls traditional Turkish architecture.